Durex “sexual ecstasy” ad avoids censure

Wed, 10 Mar 2010

The ad depicted the facial expressions of a number of women who appeared to be experiencing sexual ecstasy while singing arias. 

The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that the ad was not “overtly graphic, contained no explicit material and was unlikely to cause offence, provided it was scheduled appropriately.”

The ad had cleared by Clearcast with a post-11pm timing restriction.

Complainants questioned whether it was offensive and unsuitable to be shown when they saw it at about 10pm and later at 10.30pm on Channel 4.

The broadcaster says it had cleared the scheduling because the subject matter, content and audience of the shows the ad aired within - Gordon Ramsey’s F Word and Derren Brown Presents the 3D Magic Spectacular – did not attract younger viewers and had no appeal to children.